Singapore introduces new rules for bike-share users, fines for abusers

Photo credit: OBike

Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) is introducing a new set of rules for users of bike-sharing apps, as well as fines and other penalties for those deemed to be breaking them.

The LTA is implementing a new regulatory framework for bike-sharing companies, which will have to obtain a license to continue operating in the city-state. Chinese firms Mobike and Ofo, and local players Anywheel and SG Bike, are understood to have applied for licenses.

OBike exited the Singapore market earlier this year, suggesting that the proposed licensing regime was too stringent and costly to justify its continued presence in the city-state.

See: OBike ceases operations in Singapore, while GrabCycle pauses new user sign-ups

The LTA said today that as part of this framework, it is establishing a country-wide, QR code-based parking system in an effort to get users to park dockless bikes in designated areas when they’ve finished using them.

The agency will begin installing the QR codes in parking areas by the end of this month and will run a public education campaign to inform users about the new parking system, which will begin operating in January next year.

There will be penalties for users that fail to scan the QR code to end their ride and park bicycles in the right places. They’ll be fined S$5 (about US$3.66) by the relevant bike-sharing operator for a first offense. Users who do this at least three times in a calendar year will face a ban of up to a year from all bike-sharing services.

Currency converted from Singapore dollars. Rate: US$1 = S$1.37